The Waycross Journal-Herald
Waycross, Ware Co, Georgia
Mary Roberts Black, 82, died Monday (Sept. 8, 2003) at Sears Nursing Center, Abilene, (Taylor Co) Texas, surrounded by her family. She was born to James Leon and Alma (Griner) Roberts, Sr. on Oct. 2, 1920, in Blackshear (Pierce Co, GA). She met her husband of 58 years while he was stationed at Camp Stewart, Ga., and married J.R. Black Jr. in Blackshear on October 19, 1945. They moved to Abilene, Texas the same year. She was homemaker and an active member of First Baptist Church in Abilene, where she was a pre-school teacher for 38 years. She served on the board of "God's Little Ones" (GLO), and was involved for several years in "Live Long & Like It" (LLL), both at First Baptist Church. She was a Girl Scout Troop leader and a Cub Scout Den Mother. She was active in the P.T.A. in Abilene and involved in "SEP" Supper Club. She brought a warmth and liveliness characteristic of her rural South Georgia upbringing to Texas to make a home in Abilene with her war-time sweetheart. Her friendly and supportive manner fostered an environment of hospitality in many settings and created a feeling of home and community among her friends, her Texas family, and in the many places where she involved herself. Mary and J.R. maintained close ties with the Georgia family and raised their children with two home towns, Blackshear and Abilene. For eleven and a half years, Mary and her family have known yet another home at Sears Methodist Center. Mary has been well loved and cared for there and the family has enjoyed much support and caring relationships with the staff over their years at the home. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, J.L. Roberts Jr.; and a sister, Minnie Lee Cochran. Survivors include her husband, J.R. Black Jr., of Abilene; her mother-in-law, Mrs. J.R. Black Sr.; her children, Betty Kerkhof (husband Luc) of Raleigh, N.C., Jeannie Gambill (husband Clinton), of Houston, Texas, Robert Black (wife Melinda) of San Angelo, Texas, and Charlie Black (wife Leigh) of Abilene; grandchildren, Peter Kerkhof, Harley Gambill, Casey Gambill, Emilee Black, Mendy Black, Travis Black, Taylor Black and Terrell Black. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Abilene with Dr. Phil Christopher officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory. Private graveside services will be in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Her grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
As new manager on June 1, 2022 , I have added birth county and state, death county and state, linked to parents, and added middle name , also put inscription from headstone
Waycross, Ware Co, Georgia
Mary Roberts Black, 82, died Monday (Sept. 8, 2003) at Sears Nursing Center, Abilene, (Taylor Co) Texas, surrounded by her family. She was born to James Leon and Alma (Griner) Roberts, Sr. on Oct. 2, 1920, in Blackshear (Pierce Co, GA). She met her husband of 58 years while he was stationed at Camp Stewart, Ga., and married J.R. Black Jr. in Blackshear on October 19, 1945. They moved to Abilene, Texas the same year. She was homemaker and an active member of First Baptist Church in Abilene, where she was a pre-school teacher for 38 years. She served on the board of "God's Little Ones" (GLO), and was involved for several years in "Live Long & Like It" (LLL), both at First Baptist Church. She was a Girl Scout Troop leader and a Cub Scout Den Mother. She was active in the P.T.A. in Abilene and involved in "SEP" Supper Club. She brought a warmth and liveliness characteristic of her rural South Georgia upbringing to Texas to make a home in Abilene with her war-time sweetheart. Her friendly and supportive manner fostered an environment of hospitality in many settings and created a feeling of home and community among her friends, her Texas family, and in the many places where she involved herself. Mary and J.R. maintained close ties with the Georgia family and raised their children with two home towns, Blackshear and Abilene. For eleven and a half years, Mary and her family have known yet another home at Sears Methodist Center. Mary has been well loved and cared for there and the family has enjoyed much support and caring relationships with the staff over their years at the home. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, J.L. Roberts Jr.; and a sister, Minnie Lee Cochran. Survivors include her husband, J.R. Black Jr., of Abilene; her mother-in-law, Mrs. J.R. Black Sr.; her children, Betty Kerkhof (husband Luc) of Raleigh, N.C., Jeannie Gambill (husband Clinton), of Houston, Texas, Robert Black (wife Melinda) of San Angelo, Texas, and Charlie Black (wife Leigh) of Abilene; grandchildren, Peter Kerkhof, Harley Gambill, Casey Gambill, Emilee Black, Mendy Black, Travis Black, Taylor Black and Terrell Black. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Abilene with Dr. Phil Christopher officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory. Private graveside services will be in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Her grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
As new manager on June 1, 2022 , I have added birth county and state, death county and state, linked to parents, and added middle name , also put inscription from headstone
The Waycross Journal-Herald
Waycross, Ware Co, Georgia
Mary Roberts Black, 82, died Monday (Sept. 8, 2003) at Sears Nursing Center, Abilene, (Taylor Co) Texas, surrounded by her family. She was born to James Leon and Alma (Griner) Roberts, Sr. on Oct. 2, 1920, in Blackshear (Pierce Co, GA). She met her husband of 58 years while he was stationed at Camp Stewart, Ga., and married J.R. Black Jr. in Blackshear on October 19, 1945. They moved to Abilene, Texas the same year. She was homemaker and an active member of First Baptist Church in Abilene, where she was a pre-school teacher for 38 years. She served on the board of "God's Little Ones" (GLO), and was involved for several years in "Live Long & Like It" (LLL), both at First Baptist Church. She was a Girl Scout Troop leader and a Cub Scout Den Mother. She was active in the P.T.A. in Abilene and involved in "SEP" Supper Club. She brought a warmth and liveliness characteristic of her rural South Georgia upbringing to Texas to make a home in Abilene with her war-time sweetheart. Her friendly and supportive manner fostered an environment of hospitality in many settings and created a feeling of home and community among her friends, her Texas family, and in the many places where she involved herself. Mary and J.R. maintained close ties with the Georgia family and raised their children with two home towns, Blackshear and Abilene. For eleven and a half years, Mary and her family have known yet another home at Sears Methodist Center. Mary has been well loved and cared for there and the family has enjoyed much support and caring relationships with the staff over their years at the home. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, J.L. Roberts Jr.; and a sister, Minnie Lee Cochran. Survivors include her husband, J.R. Black Jr., of Abilene; her mother-in-law, Mrs. J.R. Black Sr.; her children, Betty Kerkhof (husband Luc) of Raleigh, N.C., Jeannie Gambill (husband Clinton), of Houston, Texas, Robert Black (wife Melinda) of San Angelo, Texas, and Charlie Black (wife Leigh) of Abilene; grandchildren, Peter Kerkhof, Harley Gambill, Casey Gambill, Emilee Black, Mendy Black, Travis Black, Taylor Black and Terrell Black. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Abilene with Dr. Phil Christopher officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory. Private graveside services will be in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Her grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
As new manager on June 1, 2022 , I have added birth county and state, death county and state, linked to parents, and added middle name , also put inscription from headstone
Waycross, Ware Co, Georgia
Mary Roberts Black, 82, died Monday (Sept. 8, 2003) at Sears Nursing Center, Abilene, (Taylor Co) Texas, surrounded by her family. She was born to James Leon and Alma (Griner) Roberts, Sr. on Oct. 2, 1920, in Blackshear (Pierce Co, GA). She met her husband of 58 years while he was stationed at Camp Stewart, Ga., and married J.R. Black Jr. in Blackshear on October 19, 1945. They moved to Abilene, Texas the same year. She was homemaker and an active member of First Baptist Church in Abilene, where she was a pre-school teacher for 38 years. She served on the board of "God's Little Ones" (GLO), and was involved for several years in "Live Long & Like It" (LLL), both at First Baptist Church. She was a Girl Scout Troop leader and a Cub Scout Den Mother. She was active in the P.T.A. in Abilene and involved in "SEP" Supper Club. She brought a warmth and liveliness characteristic of her rural South Georgia upbringing to Texas to make a home in Abilene with her war-time sweetheart. Her friendly and supportive manner fostered an environment of hospitality in many settings and created a feeling of home and community among her friends, her Texas family, and in the many places where she involved herself. Mary and J.R. maintained close ties with the Georgia family and raised their children with two home towns, Blackshear and Abilene. For eleven and a half years, Mary and her family have known yet another home at Sears Methodist Center. Mary has been well loved and cared for there and the family has enjoyed much support and caring relationships with the staff over their years at the home. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, J.L. Roberts Jr.; and a sister, Minnie Lee Cochran. Survivors include her husband, J.R. Black Jr., of Abilene; her mother-in-law, Mrs. J.R. Black Sr.; her children, Betty Kerkhof (husband Luc) of Raleigh, N.C., Jeannie Gambill (husband Clinton), of Houston, Texas, Robert Black (wife Melinda) of San Angelo, Texas, and Charlie Black (wife Leigh) of Abilene; grandchildren, Peter Kerkhof, Harley Gambill, Casey Gambill, Emilee Black, Mendy Black, Travis Black, Taylor Black and Terrell Black. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Abilene with Dr. Phil Christopher officiating, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory. Private graveside services will be in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Her grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
As new manager on June 1, 2022 , I have added birth county and state, death county and state, linked to parents, and added middle name , also put inscription from headstone
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